Slovakia
Slovakia (in Slovak: Slovensko), officially also called the Slovak Republic (in Slovak: Slovenská republika), is a landlocked republic in Central Europe, bounded on the northwest by the Czech Republic, on the north by Poland, on the east by Ukraine, on the south by Hungary, and on the southwest by Austria.
The recent practise (especially in economic texts) of using the name Slovak Republic (instead of Slovakia), when the terms Hungary, Slovenia etc. are used in the same text, is absolutely wrong (neither desired by the Slovaks, nor justified lingustically or historically). There is absolutely no reason for using the long form. This wrong usage arose in analogy to the use of the term Czech Republic, but that is (partly) another problem (see Czech Republic, Czech lands).
History
Main article: History of Slovakia
The original Slavic population settled the general territory of Slovakia in the 5th century. Slovakia was part of the center of Samo's empire in the 7th century.The highest point of the 9th century proto-Slovak state known as Great Moravia came with the arrival of Cyril and Methodius and the expansion under King Svatopluk. Eventually, Slovakia became a part of the Kingdom of Hungary in the 11th-14th centuries and as such was later part of Austria-Hungary prior to 1918.
In that year Slovakia joined with the regions of Bohemia and neighbouring Moravia to form Czechoslovakia.
Following the break-up of that country after the Munich Agreement of 1938, Slovakia became a separate republic that would be tightly controlled by Nazi Germany.
Post World War II Czechoslovakia was reinstated and came under the influence of the Soviet Union and its Warsaw Pact from 1945 onward.
The end of communist Czechoslovakia in 1989 during the peaceful Velvet Revolution also meant the end for Czechoslovakia as a whole and a creation of two successor states; Slovakia and the Czech Republic went their separate ways after January 1, 1993.
Slovakia is expected to become a member of the European Union in May 2004.
See also: Bratislava - History, and History of Bratislava
Politics
Main article: Politics of Slovakia
The Slovak head of state is the president, elected by direct popular vote for a five-year term.
Most executive power lies with the head of government, the prime minister, who is usually the leader of the major party or a majority coalition in parliament and appointed by the president.
The remainder of the cabinet is appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister.
Slovakia's highest legislative body is the 150-seat unicameral National Council of the Slovak Republic (Národná Rada Slovenskej Republiky).
Delegates are elected for 4-year terms on the basis of proportional representation. Slovakia highest judicial body is the Constitutional Court (Ústavný súd), which rules on constitutional issues.
The 13 members of this court are appointed by the president from a slate of candidates nominated by parliament.
See also: List of rulers of Slovakia
Regions
Main article: Regions of Slovakia
As for administrative division, Slovakia is subdivided into 8 "kraje" (singular - kraj, usually translated as regions, but actually meaning rather county), each of which is named after their principal city. As for territorial division and the definition of self-governing entities, since 2002, Slovakia is divided into 8 "vyššie územné celky" abbr. VÚC (Higher Territorial Units) and 8 "samosprávne kraje" (Self-governing (or: autonomous) Regions), both of which are presently identical with the 8 "kraje":
(the word "kraj" can be replaced by "VÚC" or "samosprávny kraj" in each case)
The "kraje" are - and have always been - subdivided into many "okresy" (singular - okres, usually translated as districts)
See also: List of traditional regions of Slovakia
 Map
Geography
Main article: Geography of Slovakia
The Slovak landscape is noted primarily for its mountainous nature, with the Carpathian Mountains extending across most of the northern half of the country.
Amongst them are the high peaks of the Tatra mountains, which are a popular skiing destination and home to many scenic lakes and valleys as well as the highest point in Slovakia, the Gerlachovský at 2,655 m.
Lowlands are found in the southwestern (along the Danube) and southeastern parts of Slovakia. Major Slovak rivers, besides the Danube, are the Váh and the Hron.
The Slovak climate is temperate, with relatively cool summers and cold, cloudy and humid winters.
Economy
Main article: Economy of Slovakia
Slovakia has mastered much of the difficult transition from a centrally planned economy to a modern market economy.
The Dzurinda government made progress in 2001 in macroeconomic stabilisation and structural reform.
Major privatisations are nearly complete, the banking sector is almost completely in foreign hands, and foreign investment has picked up. Slovakia's economy exceeded expectations in the early 2000's, despite recession in key export markets.
Revival of domestic demand in 2002, partly due to a rise in real wages, offset slowing export growth to help drive the economy to its strongest expansion since 1998.Solid domestic demand boosted economic growth to 4.4% in 2002. Strong export growth,in turn, will boost economic growth to about 4% in 2003.
Unemployment, rising to 19.8% at the end of 2001, decreased considerably in 2003.
Slovakia will become a member of the European Union in May 2004.
Demographics
Main article: Demographics of Slovakia
The majority of the inhabitants of the Slovak Republic are ethnically Slovak (86%). Hungarians are the largest ethnic minority (10%) and are concentrated in the southern and eastern regions of Slovakia.
Other ethnic groups include Roma, Czechs, Ruthenians, Ukrainians, Germans, and Poles.
The Slovak constitution guarantees freedom of religion.
The majority of Slovak citizens (69%) practice Roman Catholicism; the second-largest group are Protestants (9%).
About 2,300 Jews remain of the estimated pre-WWII population of 120,000. The official state language is Slovak, a member of the Slavic languages, but Hungarian is also widely spoken in the south and enjoys a co-official status in some regions.
Culture
Main article: Culture of Slovakia
Holidays
see also: Remembrance days in Slovakia
Miscellaneous topics
External Links
Referenced By
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